7.—(1) The returning officer may use, free of charge, for the purpose of taking the poll or counting the votes–
(a)a room in a school maintained or assisted by a local education authority or a school in respect of which grants are made out of moneys provided by Parliament to the person or body of persons responsible for the management of the school;
(b)a room the expense of maintaining which is payable out of any rate.
(2) The returning officer shall make good any damage done to, and defray any expense incurred by the persons having control over, any such room as mentioned above by reason of its being used for the purpose of taking the poll or counting the votes.
(3) The use of a room in an unoccupied house for that purpose or those purposes does not render a person liable to be rated or to pay any rate for the house.